THURROCK-BORN Sam Byram has made quite an impression at West Ham after completing a £3.7million move to the Premier League club.

Byram, 22, had an impressive debut against Manchester City on Saturday just days after signing from Leeds United on a four-and-a-half year deal.

The defender spent his early years in Thurrock before moving north to Yorkshire where he was signed by Leeds United as a schoolboy.

But he has come back down south after turning down a move to Everton and he says that has made his relatives still living down here very proud.

“I’m unbelievably proud and happy to join a club as big as this,” Byram said. “I’m just looking forward to what the future holds and hopefully I can achieve things with the team going forward.

“My uncle and cousin are big West Ham fans. It’s nice to have them down here and they’ll help me settle so I’m looking forward to seeing them.”